(E) Each school district is guaranteed an effective tax rate for current expenses equal to two per cent of the taxable value of each class of real property in the district. In the case of a school district whose total tax rate for current expenses as authorized, is less than two per cent, the guarantee equals only the maximum effective rate so authorized by the voters of the district. Example: A school district is authorized to levy five unvoted mills for current expenses. The voters have approved an additional ten mills. The district's guaranteed effective rate is one and one-half per cent (fifteen mills) because that is the maximum authorized rate.
Annually, for each class of property for each school district, the commissioner shall determine whether adjustments to the tax reduction factors of the district's taxes are necessary to guarantee that the district levies its guaranteed effective tax rate for current expenses. This determination shall be made as follows:
(1) Using the tax reduction factor determined under division (D) of section 319.301 of the Revised Code and paragraph (D) of this rule, the commissioner shall compute the sum of the taxes charged and payable for current expenses by the voted tax levies of that district;(2) The commissioner shall determine the total taxes charged and payable within the ten-mill limitation for the current expenses of the district;(3) The commissioner shall determine the difference between the amount in paragraphs (E)(3)(a) and (E)(3)(b) of this rule. However, if the difference obtained by subtracting the amount in paragraph (E)(3)(b) of this rule from the amount in paragraph (E)(3)(a) of this rule is a negative number, then the amount determined under this paragraph is zero.(a) From the total taxes charged and payable on the tax list against the property of that school district for tax year 1981, after making any reduction required in that year under section 319.301 of the Revised Code, but prior to making any reduction under section 319.302 of the Revised Code, for the current expenses of a joint vocational school district of which the school district is a part in the current year; subtract,(b) The following percentage of the taxable value of all real property in the appropriate class of real property: (i) In 1987, five one-hundredths of one per cent (.0005);(ii) In 1988, one-tenth of one per cent (.001);(iii) In 1989, fifteen one-hundredths of one per cent (.0015);(iv) In 1990 and each subsequent year, two-tenths of one per cent (.002).(4) The sum of the amounts determined in paragraphs (E)(1), (E)(2), and (E)(3) of this rule equals the unadjusted total taxes of the school district for current expenses in the current year. This total should always exclude emergency school levies and debt levies, except as provided in rule 5703-25-49 of the Administrative Code.(5) The commissioner shall compare the amount shown as the unadjusted total taxes of the school district for current expenses in paragraph (E)(4) of this rule to the amount obtained by multiplying the total taxable value of all real property in the same class of real property by two per cent. (a) If the unadjusted total taxes for current expenses of the district charged against the class of real property is more than two per cent of the taxable value of real property in that class, the tax reduction factors for that class are the percentage determined in paragraph (D) of this rule. No adjustment is required.(b) If the unadjusted total taxes for current expenses of the district charged against that class of real property are less than two per cent of the taxable value of real property in that class, the commissioner shall adjust the tax reduction factors for that class determined under paragraph (D) of this rule by a uniform percentage so that the total taxes for current expenses of the district prior to the reduction under section 319.302 of the Revised Code shall equal exactly two per cent of the taxable value of real property in that class.(c) In the case of a school district whose total authorized tax rate for current expenses is less than two per cent, if the unadjusted total taxes for current expenses of the district charged against that class of real property are less than the total authorized rate for current expenses multiplied by the taxable value of real property in that class, the commissioner shall adjust the tax reduction factors for that class determined under paragraph (D) of this rule by a uniform percentage so that the total taxes charged and payable for current expenses of the district produce an effective tax rate equal to the district's authorized tax rate for current expenses.(6) If the commissioner is required to make the adjustment specified under paragraph (E)(5)(b) or (E)(5)(c) of this rule, the commissioner shall certify the tax reduction factors computed under the appropriate paragraph to the county auditor, and the factors certified shall replace the tax reduction factors determined under paragraph (D) of this rule, and the adjusted percentages so certified shall be the tax reduction factors for that class of property for all purposes.(7) When the tax reduction factors for a school district's taxes are factors certified under paragraph (E)(6) of this rule, the taxes charged and payable after making the reductions required by such factors equals the net taxes of the school district for that year.